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Directed by
Tom Tykwer | |
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Tom Tykwer is easily one of my favorite filmmakers. He has a distinct way of telling stories. A Tykwer movie always looks spectacular, sounds incredible because he makes full use of all the filmmaking tools. THE INTERNATIONAL is the story of an Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) who teams with his partner, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney (Naomi Watts) to expose the underhanded ways of a large powerful bank. To do this, they must get through the multiple barriers that protect the bank, this creates real tension and you believe it unlikely they will ever be accomplish their plight. The movie has the smarts, subtly and takes the time like the great socio-political thrillers from the 70s but with Tykwer's signature vision. The cast does a remarkable job with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts each bringing an understated quality. Character actors like Armin Mueller-Stahl, Brian F. O'Byrne and others help make the movie feel real and important. Music always plays an integral part in a Tykwer film. Think of the pounding score in RUN LOLA RUN or the dreamy psychological songs & score in PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR, not to mention the powerful orchestrated score with soaring female vocals in PERFUME. The score for THE INTERNATIONAL is very subdued but remarkable in setting mood, helping keep up the pace and underlining the films suspense. This DVD has some informative supplements. The Commentary with Tom Tykwer and Writer Eric Singer is very good because each person adds details to the movie's construction. We hear how Tykwer made Singer write a few more drafts than the writer really wanted to write, which Singer admits pissed him off, but in the end they both agree that it improved the movie. We also get Salinger & Whitman Extended Scene which builds up more tension as the two partners are followed by two male figures along the riverside and forced to escape the area on a public bus. Making The International is a half hour chronicle of how the movie was made. Almost every important aspect of the film is addressed and it moves at a good clip. Shooting at the Guggenheim shows how the crew built the famed New York City museum as a set, which was the biggest undertaking of anything ever in a Tom Tykwer film. It's amazing to see the physical set construction that took place and the amount of production design and set decoration it took to make the set seem like the real place. Beyond impressive. The Architecture of The International details how the film team uses an incredible diverse collection of architecture to represent the many different cities seen in the film. The Autostadt is the visually spectacular riverside attraction owned by Volkswagen corporation, whom allowed this film to be the first to ever shoot at it's massive, modern Wolfsburg, Germany location. THE INTERNATIONAL is everything you could want in a good thriller. First rate filmmaking that tells of a confrontation where a couple brave souls try to tackle a giant corporate establishment. I wish we would see more courage like this in real life. In the mean time, pick up this DVD to be completely entertained by this suspenseful movie. | ||
